Human Interaction Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

In the 1970s, the term "burnout" began to gain frequent usage in the United States, particularly among those employed in human service occupations (Schaufeli, 2009). Burnout has been the subject of study in numerous countries worldwide.... more

In the 1970s, the term "burnout" began to gain frequent usage in the United States, particularly among those employed in human service occupations (Schaufeli, 2009). Burnout has been the subject of study in numerous countries worldwide. Interestingly, the term "burnout" lacks a direct translation in almost all languages despite its literal meaning of "burning out" (Maslach, 2001). According to Harrison (1999), Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to emotionally demanding environments (Harrison, 1999, cited by Maslach, 2001). However, Maslach (2001) offers a different perspective, asserting that job burnout is a vague concept lacking a clear definition; consequently, constructive dialogue about the issue and its solutions is challenging (Maslach, 2001). Furthermore, Burnout has traditionally been regarded as a job-specific syndrome characterized by three main dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism, and diminished professional efficacy (Bianchi, 2014; Chen, 2012; Schaufeli, 2009). These dimensions reflect the chronic stress associated with the workplace (Bianchi, 2014). Nonetheless, Bianchi (2014) has contested that Burnout is exclusively job-related, suggesting instead that it may be a multi-domain syndrome resulting from chronic, unresolved stress across various aspects of life, not solely work. Burnout is also a critical issue within academia.